Tenn. woman charged with 18 counts of statutory rape, accused of 'trading items' for sex

McMINN COUNTY, Tenn. (TCD) -- A 38-year-old woman is accused of having sex with underage male students, and authorities believe there are additional victims.

In a Feb. 15 statement, the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office said Melissa Blair of Englewood was indicted on 18 counts of aggravated statutory rape, four counts of human trafficking by patronizing prostitution, and one count of solicitation of a minor.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services reportedly reached out to McMinn County Sheriff’s Office officials in December to report Blair "had been having sexual encounters with male juveniles who were students at McMinn Central High School."

The Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation and other alleged victims stepped forward. On Dec. 15, detectives spoke with Blair and obtained a search warrant for her residence. McMinn County School Director Lee Parkinson reportedly banned Blair from school property and school-related activities.

According to the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office, the sexual encounters allegedly occurred between spring 2020 until "late 2021." The Sheriff’s Office said there were nine male juvenile victims, though two of those victims are adults now.

McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said in the statement, "We suspect there may be additional juvenile victims and we encourage them or their parents to contact us. There may possibly be other victims who are now adults, and we also encourage them to contact us."

Guy said Blair allegedly contacted the victims via social media and was "arranging meetings with them, and trading items for sexual encounters with them."

According to WTVC-TV, Blair never worked at McMinn Central High School, though she did have a child attend the school before transferring.

Guy said in the statement Blair turned herself in and was going to post the $100,000 bail.

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